Crockpot Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe
This comforting Crockpot Lemon Chicken Soup combines tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and bright lemon flavors for a warm, satisfying meal. Featuring carrots, celery, garlic, and orzo pasta, it’s easy to prepare in a slow cooker with minimal hands-on time, making it perfect for busy days or cozy dinners. The lemon zest and juice add a refreshing tang that elevates this classic soup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Vegetables
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Broth
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 cups chicken broth
Lemon and Pasta
- Zest from ½ lemon
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
Garnish
- Fresh chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Add the chicken, sliced carrots, sliced celery, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, poultry seasoning, and bay leaves to a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth to combine all ingredients.
- Cook on low or high: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken and vegetables are tender and flavors meld.
- Remove bay leaves and shred chicken: About 30 minutes before serving, remove and discard the bay leaves. Take the chicken out and shred it using two forks for easy incorporation back into the soup.
- Add lemon, orzo, and shredded chicken: Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, uncooked orzo, and shredded chicken. Switch the slow cooker to HIGH and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom.
- Final seasoning and garnish: Taste the soup and adjust with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot topped with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy your flavorful and hearty lemon chicken soup!
Notes
- For a thicker soup, reduce the chicken broth by one cup or cook the orzo slightly longer.
- Use chicken breasts if you prefer leaner meat; thighs will provide a richer flavor.
- Fresh lemon juice and zest brighten the flavor; use fresh lemons rather than bottled juice for best results.
- To make this soup gluten-free, substitute orzo with gluten-free pasta or rice.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Stir occasionally during the final cooking stage to prevent the orzo from sticking to the pot.
Keywords: slow cooker chicken soup, lemon chicken soup, crockpot soup recipe, healthy chicken soup, comfort food, easy dinner, orzo soup
Find it online: https://famdishes.com/crockpot-lemon-chicken-soup-recipe/
